KEEP ON PUSHING!

The other day I was in a petty conversation with my neighbor (we do that often) when his countenance suddenly changed. He proceeded to ask me a question that seemed funny when it came out of his mouth. He asked, ‘Damy I go fit ever get fifty million naira of my own money? As in make I get fifty million for bank?’ He was looking at me in anticipation of a response so I paused for a few seconds to ponder what he just said. Being the dreamer that I am, I always try to motivate people around me regardless of the odds. Despite the fact that I know in summary what the economic landscape would look like for someone in his position, I responded in the affirmative and proceeded to point out the possibilities of that happening. My response was void of logic cause in reality the economics of his situation makes it almost unlikely that he ever will. Why you might ask. Let’s examine his scenario to find out.

This neighbor of mine is married with three kids. He is a plumber by profession and despite this he has his own car and his own house. He is sub 35 age wise, and he is barely educated. I doubt that he even has a schooling leaving certificate. Now his plumbing business to the best of my knowledge is a one man business. However he has about 3 or 4 employees in the form of apprentices who get paid stipends and who don’t have much experience in the field of endeavor. His clientele consists of mostly projects for residential buildings and repairs in some cases. Now let’s assume that once in a while he gets an office project, school project or a project other than residential. Bear in mind that he has no alternative source of income.

Since I really don’t know what his finance is like, let’s assume that his take home at the end of a regular month is 150 thousand naira after the running costs of the business has been deducted. Assuming also that after spending on the upkeep for his household he gets to save 20% of whatever he makes every month, how much will he have at the end of his life? Before you respond to that question, let’s factor in all the variables. He definitely won’t meet that number income-wise every month, some months he might make more and other months he might make less. The expenses for upkeep will never remain constant as it will always get higher as his kids grow older and there will always arise some unforeseen circumstance that will require extra spending. Ok. So how much will he have saved up when he is say 70 years?

A lot of us have a habit of analyzing our lives and everything that’s happening around us rather than getting on with living. If one is to dwell on the circumstances they find themselves in all the time, I doubt that there’ll ever be successful people talk less of achievers. Ask anyone who can be said to be successful if they ever knew they were going to be successful and when they foresaw it happening and hear what their responses would be. Some of them will respond that they didn’t see it happening, others that are confident in their ability like M.I Abaga will tell you that they knew it was going to happen, them being successful that is. One thing that’ll be constant with the responses you’ll get if you really go out to ask these people is this; no one amongst everyone you ask knew the very moment their breakthrough would come.

That said, shall we cease to live and exist cause the eventuality of our present circumstance is looking unlikely when compared to our desired end?

The decision to address this subject in the form of a blog article came to me whilst watching the celebration of Chelsea FC’s triumph in the champions league (take note that I’m an Arsenal FC fan) the moment particularly was when Roberto Di Matteo was leading the players up the podium to receive their winners’ medals. Freeze that frame right there!

Now Di Matteo is Chelsea’s caretaker coach, the guy that was brought in to handle things pending the time they resolve the issue of replacing their sacked coach. Did he just hold the position with the lackadaisical attitude that someone who knows they are just a stopgap and not the solution would? No! He went ahead and made things happen.

Last season he was coaching Westbromwich Albion in their battle for survival in the premiership, he succeeded at that but finally got axed mid season this time around after a series of bad results. The season before that, he was coaching the same team in the championship and succeeded in securing their promotion to the premiership, the season before that he was coaching a team in the third tier of English football. Today he has joined the elite rank of coaches who have won the champion’s league. Did he see this happening under this circumstance? NO! If anyone was to examine and analyze his situation some three months earlier, or even when he assumed the post of interim coach, would they have foreseen this outcome? NO! Take note that he is the most successful coach in England this season for doing the double (FA cup and Champions league).

I doubt that you need me to break down the moral of this one to you but just in case you need me to, here it is. Your present situation is the prelude to a better after now regardless of how long or how bleak it looks like. What you can do when it seems you’re in a situation you can’t control is to control yourself. Stay focused on your goal, work hard towards improving your person in all ramifications and above all BELIEVE. The truth is that all of those successful people believed they would succeed even though they were often time surrounded by circumstances that casted uncertainties on their aspirations. If Di Matteo can do it, and my neighbor who I know will surely do it does too, why can’t you? Keep on pushing!


p.s. you might want to listen to track 11 off 2Face’s new album ‘Away&Beyond’ titled ‘Keep on pushing’. God bless your Hustle this week and forever.